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The best free software for your PC
These are the best free programs that any PC needs: solid security tools, productivity software, and more.
Feature
AI impersonators will wreck online security in 2025. Here’s what to watch out for
We all have to be much more vigilant about what’s real and what’s not.
Feature
The Zero Trust era is coming: What that means for VPNs and your data
Zero Trust architecture is revolutionizing network security to better protect your data, but a good VPN will never go out of style.
Feature
The best PC games of 2024 (that don’t need a graphics card)
Want some great new games to play on an old laptop, or a new Steam Deck? Check out this roundup.
Deal
Need a last-minute gift card? 20 compelling options for tech and beyond
From Amazon to DoorDash to Fortnite, we found some amazing online gift card ideas for the last-minute shoppers.
Opinion
I'm switching to a long-lasting laptop. Here's why I want Intel inside
The new Arm-based PCs are very capable but the reality of using one right now is that you're going to encounter compatibility problems.
News
Elon Musk hints at 'X Mail,' a potential Gmail competitor
Elon Musk has apparently confirmed plans for X Mail, a simple and straightforward email service.
News
Microsoft 365 is getting a 'massive' redesign early next year
A new icon and a new name are just the tip of the iceberg. Here's what we know about what's coming.
News
Meta slapped with €251 million fine for mishandling 2018 data breach
Meta must pay millions in fines after being investigated for the 2018 data breach that affected over 50 million Facebook accounts.
News
The US military is tracking Santa's sleigh flight. Here's how to watch it
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is once again following Santa's deliveries this year. You can follow it live on the internet.
News
Windows Outlook app is having login troubles, throws up an error code
Users are running into an error message when trying to log in to Outlook. Microsoft has confirmed the problem.
Opinion
Installing Windows 11 on old PCs is incredibly risky. Here’s why
Running Windows 11 on older, incompatible hardware isn’t just limiting—it’s downright problematic.
News
Firefox's Do Not Track feature is going away because websites ignore it
Too many websites ignored Firefox's DNT feature, which could actually lead to privacy concerns.
News
Ho ho ho! ChatGPT rolls out a Santa voice for Christmas season
You can also share video and your mobile screen with the chatbot.
Feature
I'm a Windows guy. This little-known feature makes Macs more tolerable
Windows users may find multitasking on macOS more tolerable with Stage Manager enabled.
News
Google's 'Deep Research' AI can write a college-level paper in minutes
Google's "Deep Research" is an AI research service that can scan dozens of websites in minutes and write a comprehensive paper on the subject of your choice using Google Gemini.
News
FCC threatens to block spammy VOIP services
The Federal Communications Commission is putting more than 2,000 American VOIP providers on notice for failing to comply with spam mitigation systems.
News
Microsoft fixes zero-day security flaw in latest Windows update
Microsoft resolved 71 security vulnerabilities in December's Patch Tuesday update, including one that's already being exploited in the wild.
Feature
The FBI says you should use encrypted messaging. But do you need to?
After Chinese hackers infiltrated eight US telecommunications companies, the US government now recommends the use of encrypted messaging.
News
Vivaldi's sync outage stretches into a fifth day
Browser maker Vivaldi's online sync services are down, preventing a version of Vivaldi on a phone or PC from "knowing" what you've read or interacted with on another device.
News
Global internet traffic grew significantly in 2024, and that's not all
According to Cloudflare's 2024 Year in Review, the world's web habits continue to shift in expected and unexpected ways.
Updated
OpenAI releases Sora, its AI-powered video generator tool
It's currently available to ChatGPT Plus and ChatGPT Pro subscribers. As of yet, there are no plans to bring Sora access to free users.
News
Microsoft Edge is faster and more responsive on Windows 11 now
The new WebUI 2.0 framework brings big performance boosts in Edge, especially for older PCs.
News
Excel world champion solves 'Warcraft' spreadsheet to win crown
Michael Jarman has won the Super Bowl for nerds: the 2024 Microsoft Excel World Championship, managing a simulated World of Warcraft clan in a series of quests via spreadsheet.
Feature
Alexa’s big AI makeover: 8 burning questions answered
It’s been more than a year since we got our first glimpse of an AI-supercharged Alexa. What happened?
News
Believe it or not, ChatGPT gets over 1 billion messages every single day
The AI chatbot also boasts over 300 million weekly active users, according to a tweet straight from OpenAI.
News
This sneaky phishing attack is a new take on a dirty old trick
Attackers are using Word documents to steal Microsoft account info—and antivirus isn’t catching it yet.
News
ExpressVPN releases new dedicated IP feature with total user anonymity
ExpressVPN's new dedicated IP features aims to offer convenience without compromising privacy.
News
Samsung is discontinuing its DeX app for Windows PCs
Samsung encourages DeX users on Windows PCs to switch to Microsoft's Phone Link app instead.
News
The makers of Arc show off new AI-driven 'smart browser' called Dia
The new Chromium-based browser will be packed with AI features from the start. It's planned to be released in early 2025.
Deal
3 things I always buy on Cyber Monday
It’s the final day to grab the the last items on my shopping list—and I purposely timed my purchases this way.
Deal
Save a massive 50% on Adobe Creative Cloud during Cyber Monday
This is exactly what a Cyber Monday deal should look like from Adobe.
News
Microsoft Photos has a hidden OCR feature that can read text in images
As of now, the feature can only be activated using a Windows Registry tweak.
Best Deals
Best Cyber Monday VPN deals
Cyber Monday 2024 is here and this year VPN bargain hunters can find steep discounts on some of the very best services on the market.
Deal
This popular, cheap Adobe alternative is 50% during Black Friday
No need to shell out hundreds for a Creative Cloud subscription when you could pay a fraction of that—and only once.
Feature
Black Friday deals are here! 7 tips to avoid being scammed
Watch out for fraudsters hoping to make a quick, dirty buck amid the online chaos.
News
Firefox 133 adds privacy-boosting 'bounce tracking' protection
Mozilla has released Firefox 133. The browser offers even more protection for your privacy. The developers have also closed some security gaps.
Opinion
I switched from X to Bluesky: What I love and hate about it so far
Bluesky isn't the perfect replacement for X, but I'm happily sticking with it. Here's what I love and hate after migrating from X to Bluesky.
News
'Hacker' breaks into gym to get hired, gets arrested instead
A Missouri man is being charged after allegedly "hacking" multiple businesses, then contacting them to sell his "security services."
Deal
Black Friday 2024: How to get the best prices on tech, and where to shop
Holiday shopping is often chaotic. Here's what's important to know in preparation for Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2024.
Feature
I tried 4 AI detection tools and they were (mostly) disappointing
Do AI detection tools really work? I put four of them to the test and the answer is, well, complicated.
News
Watch out for fake Ryzen 9800X3D listings and don't get scammed
Dubious Amazon listings have shown up for the hottest new processor on the market. Selling for as low as $200, they're obviously fake.
Feature
Should you use a VPN browser extension? What you gain, what you give up
A VPN browser extension can be a simple and affordable way to stay safe while browsing the web, but your mileage may vary.
Best Deals
Black Friday VPN deals: What to expect, early sales
Black Friday 2024 is just around the corner. This year, VPN bargain hunters can expect steep discounts on some of the very best VPN services on the market.
News
Microsoft teases AI interpreter that can translate speech in real time
The impressive language translator feature can even use your own voice for the translated audio.
News
No more frights: Microsoft Edge is getting scareware protection
The web is rife with scams that rely on scare tactics. But Microsoft Edge will soon defend against such terrors.
News
Get 3 months of Spotify Premium for free with the Opera One browser
With Opera's newly integrated music player feature comes the opportunity to try three months of Spotify Premium for free.
News
Hackers are using Facebook ads to spread fake Chrome password managers
Watch out for Facebook ads claiming that you need to update Bitwarden. They're loading up Chrome with spyware instead.
Opinion
Disposable addresses would make Gmail a privacy powerhouse
Your email address can be a liability for online security, but it doesn't have to go that way.
Feature